Things happen for a reason, as they say. Robbie Herndon thought the same when he and Magnolia parted ways.
The sophomore Fil-Am cager, along with veteran big man Rodney Brondial, got traded by the Hotshots to the Alaska Aces in exchange for star guard Chris Banchero last November 3.
“Everything happens for a reason. That’s how I look at it,” said Herndon, the sixth pick by GlobalPort Batang Pier in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft, whom they then sent to Magnolia on draft night.
Now that he’s a Milkman, Herndon expressed excitement with this new chapter of his young pro career.
“I’m excited. It’s a good group of guys over here, a good group of coaches, the staff, everything. So I’m happy,” expressed the 26-year-old guard-forward out of San Francisco State.
Herndon and Brondial have been with the Aces a while now. They are still in an adjustment period with their new team’s scheme of things, but Herndon said it has been going smoothly.
“It’s been pretty smooth. We get after practice, it’s very competitive. So that’s a good thing,” he said.
The two made their debut Wednesday, and their stint with Alaska went off to a good start as the Aces conquered the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters, 105-102, to boost their playoff chances.
The 6-foot-3 Herndon — who had three points, a rebound, an assist, and a steal in nearly 14 minutes — believes that he was able to play well, especially on the defensive end.
“I felt like I played well defensively,” he said. “I’m still trying to get in the rhythm offensively with the system and whatnot and with the players, but you know, I feel like I could have made more shots.
“But other than that, I think it went well.”
